Logan

Wilson

Wilson was scratched with a knee injury in last week’s loss to the Steelers and has now been ruled out for the season. The veteran linebacker amassed 100-plus tackles for the fourth straight season, totaling 104 tackles, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and two TFLs. Statistically speaking, 2024 was a down year for Wilson, but his 72.3 defensive grade, per PFF, was the second-highest grade of his career.

Rankins is out with an illness and Logan Wilson has a knee injury. Those are both meaningful losses for the Bengals defense, especially against the run from Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

Wilson, Cincy’s leading tackler, did not practice at all this week before being given the questionable tag. Wilson has two forced fumbles, as many recovered fumbles, and a pair of TFLs this year. With Wilson and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins out, the Bengals are going to be particularly susceptible to Pittsburgh’s running attack, setting both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren up for good games this week.

Linebacker Logan Wilson is questionable after being added to the injury report with a knee issue this week. Not that the Steelers needed to be asked twice to run the football, but a handful of injuries to Cincy’s front-seven will do the trick anyway. Wilson leads the Bengals in tackles. Rankins has missed a few games this year, limiting him to one sack and one TFL in seven starts.

The new deal averages $11.2 million over the first two years, making Wilson the league’s sixth highest paid inside linebacker. Wilson is a playmaker (seven career interceptions) and the leader of the Bengals defense, posting back-to-back 100 tackle seasons while missing time to injuries. With Wilson signed, Cincy can now turn its attention to locking up QB Joe Burrow.

He popped up on the injury report on Friday and did not practice. It’s hard to speculate on an illness but generally players will play through them on Sundays if they can. The backup plan at every-down linebacker would be Akeem Davis-Gaither.

Wilson underwent shoulder surgery over the offseason. This injury is reportedly not as bad, but it will make him miss a few games. Wilson is second on the team with 37 tackles this season.

Wilson is still being eased back onto the field but reportedly saw action in 7-on-7 drills. The veteran linebacker said he doesn’t intend to do much more until he “hits the six-month mark” of his recovery, which would come sometime in late August. Wilson suffered a torn labrum in Week 14 of last season and underwent surgery in late February. A former third-round pick from the 2020 class, Wilson totaled 100 tackles and four interceptions last season for the Bengals in what was a breakout year for the third-year pro.

Wilson missed four of the Bengals’ final five games before playing through a torn labrum in the postseason. The 2020 third-rounder led Cincinnati in tackles (100) and interceptions (4) in a breakout second year while playing over 80% of defensive snaps. Wilson should be fully cleared for the start of training camp in July.

Wilson suffered a dislocated shoulder in Week 13 and is undergoing further testing to determine the extent of the damage. He will miss the Bengals’ Week 14 games versus the 49ers and possibly one or two more outings. Wilson leads Cincinnati in interceptions with four picks and 92 total tackles on the year.